The coronavirus on Smart Talk Wednesday: Delaying medical treatment during pandemic and State’s nursing home plan has some holes say facilities

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.
• Merideth Bucher
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Producer of WITF's Smart Talk

 Kimberly Paynter / WHYY

Dana Heller, 3rd medical student, Dr. Pierre Chanson, Natalie Gonzalez, 4th year medical student, Dr. Renell Dupree, and Dr. Ala Stanford, are part of the Black Doctors COVID-19 consortium. They are taking mobile testing at-risk zip codes in Philadelphia.

When the coronavirus pandemic gained a foothold in the U.S., hospitals that were concerned about having enough capacity to treat seriously ill COVID-19 patients began canceling elective procedures.

At the same time, some people who were worried about acquiring the virus avoided clinic and hospital visits over a fear of contagion.

The result of both actions is that patients may have delayed potentially life-saving care and diagnosis and hospital systems have lost critical revenue.

Joining Smart Talk on Wednesday to investigate the impact are Dr. Peter Dillon, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Penn State Health’s Hershey Medical Center and Andy Carter, President and CEO of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

While there are many people in need of surgeries or other treatments put off during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are those in pain who are turning to opioids. So how to stop these indirect casualties of the pandemic? Appearing on Smart Talk to discuss is Dr. Asif Ilyas, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon in the Philadelphia area, Director of the Rothman Opioid Foundation, Past President of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society, Medical Director of the Rothman Orthopaedic Surgicenter, and Professor at Jefferson Medical College.

Also, last week Gov. Tom Wolf said the state would implement universal COVID-19 testing at Pennsylvania nursing homes; where more than two-thirds of deaths have occurred. An investigation by Spotlight PA found not all residents or staff will be tested and testing won’t be mandatory. Some are calling the plan insufficient and confusing. Spotlight PA reporter Aneri Pattani explains what she found on Wednesday’s Smart Talk.